Written Answers Thursday 2 July 2009

Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether employers can claim retrospectively under the Adopt an Apprentice scheme for employing redundant apprentices before June 2009.

Fiona Hyslop: The financial incentive available through the Adopt an Apprentice scheme is available to employers who have recruited a redundant apprentice on or after the start date of 10 June 2009.

Apprenticeships

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether employers can re-employ apprentices whom they have made redundant and claim support under the Adopt an Apprentice scheme.

Fiona Hyslop: Employers wishing to re-employ apprentices whom they have made redundant may be able to claim support under the Adopt an Apprentice scheme. However, they would need to demonstrate that the circumstances which led to the redundancies have changed and that the jobs are now sustainable. The evidence provided will be considered by Skills Development Scotland on a case-by-case basis.

Cancer Research

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of its cancer research funding is spent on research into skin cancer.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Government has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and healthcare needs in Scotland. CSO does not ring fence funds for specific areas of research but supports projects of a sufficiently high standard initiated by the research community in Scotland. This role is well known and advertised throughout the healthcare and academic community.

  In the last five years 9.6% of CSO’s cancer research expenditure of £3.5 million on directly funded research projects was spent on skin cancer.

Family Nurse Partnership

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24080 by Shona Robison on 1 June 2009, how many times since 2007 its representatives have met the central Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) team in England to discuss development of the FNP in Scotland and who those representatives were.

Shona Robison: Representatives from the Scottish Government have met with the central Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) team in England on a number of occasions. There have been a variety of representatives, at different levels within both organisations. Formal arrangements have been set up to make contact regularly in the intense period before the team in Scotland begins to recruit clients.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applications to the mortgage to shared equity scheme were received in the three months from March to May 2009 and how many were successful.

Alex Neil: Applications for assistance are made to the Home Owners’ Support Fund, and it is only after initial checks have been carried out that it is determined whether an applicant will be considered for the mortgage to rent or mortgage to shared equity scheme.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W–24719 on 25 June 2009 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Nationwide Building Society regarding its acquisition of the Dunfermline Building Society’s social housing book.

Alex Neil: The First Minister reported to Parliament on 1 April 2009 that he had spoken with the chief executive of Nationwide Building Society on 30 March 2009, and that he and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth had a positive meeting with a senior representative from the Nationwide on 1 April 2009. That discussion covered a wide range of topics, including the Dunfermline Building Society’s social housing book.

  The Minister for Housing and Communities had a discussion with senior managers on 25 June 2009 to further develop the Scottish Government’s positive relationship with the Nationwide, following their success in the Bank of England’s auction process for the Dunfermline Building Society’s social housing book.

  In the interim, Scottish Government officials have had discussions with Nationwide Building Society staff on a range of matters as part of their routine engagement with key players in the Scottish financial sector.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has provided any financial incentives to the Nationwide Building Society in relation to its acquisition of the Dunfermline Building Society’s social housing book.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government has not provided any financial incentives to the Nationwide Building Society in relation to its acquisition of the Dunfermline Building Society’s social housing book.

Justice

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what post-release support is offered to prisoners following a successful appeal against a miscarriage of justice.

Kenny MacAskill: Local authorities have a statutory duty under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to provide voluntary throughcare which consists of advice, guidance and assistance to people who request such a service within 12 months of their release from custody, including those released following an appeal against conviction and/or sentence.

  Further to this, the Miscarriage of Justice Organisation Scotland (MOJOS) has received funding under section 10 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 since 1 April 2005. The grant for 2009-10 is £66,000. The grant funds MOJOS to provide a one-stop service to assist clients to gain access to benefits, housing, health services, and to provide access to counselling, reintegration and financial advice. Priority is given to supporting individuals who have had their case referred to the High Court by the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, individuals released by the High Court following such a referral and individuals coming from other UK jurisdictions in similar circumstances who intend to settle in Scotland.

Licensing

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it issues guidance on the sale of alcohol at primary school functions, such as barbeques, where pupils are present.

Kenny MacAskill: The Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 will come fully into force on 1 September 2009. Under the act, it will be possible for representatives of voluntary organisations to apply for an occasional licence. The Licensing Board must refuse the application if it considers that granting it would be inconsistent with one or more of the licensing objectives, which include protecting children from harm and protecting and improving public health. Where alcohol is to be sold for consumption on the premises, and children or young persons are to be allowed entry, the licence must set out the terms on which such entry is allowed.

  The Scottish Government’s Alcohol Framework for Action sets out our next steps in tackling alcohol misuse in Scotland. The framework includes both specific legislative measures designed to effect change in the short term and actions which focus on creating and building an environment that supports cultural change in the longer term.

  The framework includes a commitment to continuing to work with partners to develop and promote workplace alcohol policies, noting that the workplace can be a key point of connection with individuals in the promotion of a healthier relationship with alcohol.

Ministerial Visits

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24278 by John Swinney 15 June 2009, whether it will detail each occasion since May 2007 when ministers have visited Ninewells Hospital in Dundee on official business, including the nature of that business and whether car parking charge was incurred.

John Swinney: The details of the four visits undertaken on official business, using ministerial cars, referred to in the response to question S3W-24278 can be found in the following table. No parking charges were incurred by ministers on these visits to Ninewells Hospital. It is normal practice that if the minister arrives by ministerial car, he or she is dropped off and then later collected at a designated meeting point.

  

 Date of Visit
 Minister
 Nature of Visit


 19 May 2008
 Minister for Public Health and Sport
 Ms Robison was launching the Hepatitis C action plan at Ninewells Hospital


 1 September 2008
 Deputy First Minster and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing 
 Ms Sturgeon visited Ninewells Hospital to conduct the NHS Tayside annual review


 21 November 2008
 Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth
 Mr Swinney visited Ninewells Hospital to view the Clinical Research Centre


 19 May 2009
 Deputy First Minster and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing
 Ms Sturgeon visited Ninewells Hospital to open the Linear Accelerator



  The Minister for Public Health and Sport, using her own car, also officially visited Ninewells Hospital on the following occasions:

  

 Date of Visit
 Nature of Visit
 Car Parking Charge Incurred


 15 October 2007
 Hand Hygiene event
 No


 2 November 2007
 Skin Cancer Treatment and Research Centre
 Yes


 24 December 2007
 Visit to Children’s Ward
 Yes


 25 January 2008
 Clinical Technology Centre
 Yes


 26 April 2008
 Tayside Diabetes Managed Clinical Network Patient and Carer Conference
 Yes


 13 June 2008
 Health Promoting Health Service Guidance Launch
 Yes


 20 June 2008
 Chronic pain meeting
 Yes


 4 July 2008
 NHS 60 event
 Yes


 5 September 2008
 Clinical Skills Centre
 Yes

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it considers should be taken if board members of non-departmental public bodies (NDPB) fail to record details of their interests in that organisation’s register of interests while tendering and gaining contracts as shareholders of businesses.

John Swinney: All devolved non-departmental public bodies (NDPB’s) have their own codes of conduct for members which have been approved by the Scottish Government. These codes require organisations to maintain and make available registers of all members relevant interests, including financial interests.

  The Standards Commission for Scotland is the body responsible for enforcement of the codes of conduct for NDPB members and investigates any complaints made. If a member of an NDPB is found by the Standards Commission to be in breach of the code, then there are a range of sanctions that they can apply.

Non-Domestic Rates

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22027 by John Swinney on 23 March 2009, when it will announce its decision on the implementation of transitional relief for non-domestic rates.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22027, on 23 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24192 by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 June 2009, whether it will confirm what estimated cost to the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) was stated in Flooding Bill Financial Implications Assessment , published in September 2008; whether this figure differs from the £3.34 million stated in the answer; what the explanation is of any difference, and from what source any balance of costs incurred by SEPA will be funded.

Roseanna Cunningham: I am happy to confirm that the estimated figures of £3.34 million (for Directive work) and additional £0.1 million (for the transfer of reservoir work) that were stated in the answer to question S3W-24192 on 8 June 2009 are the same figures that appear in the Financial Memorandum.

  Given that the figures provided in the above referenced answer are the same as the figures in the Financial Memorandum, there is no balance of costs to address. However, as you will be aware from the answer to question S3W-24193 on 8 June 2009, the Scottish Government intends to make available to SEPA additional funding of £0.6 million in 2009-10, subject to approval by the Parliament at autumn Budget Revisions, to assist with costs incurred as a result of Directive work.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Sex Offenders

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24818 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 June 2009, when it expects the Scottish Prison Service to (a) complete and (b) roll-out the new Sex Offender Treatment Programme.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  The new Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) is contracted to be completed, including initial training of trainers, by 30 October 2009.

  Further training of programme facilitators will be rolled out between October and December 2009 with delivery being phased in to replace existing SOTPs during 2010.

Sex Offenders

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-24818 by Kenny MacAskill on 23 June 2009, whether it plans to increase the number of places on the Sex Offender Treatment Programme for those deemed eligible.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service, to respond. His response is as follows:

  It is envisaged that the new Sex Offender Treatment Programme (SOTP) will provide the opportunity to deliver more of these programmes annually.

Sport

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to encourage young people to become involved in swimming.

Shona Robison: In conjunction with sportscotland, the national agency for sport in Scotland, this is principally a matter for Scottish Swimming, the governing body for swimming in Scotland.

  The Scottish Government supports the approach that the governing body is taking to encourage young people to become involved in swimming, which includes the National Learn to Swim programme, Kellogg’s Swim Active, the deployment of Regional Swimming Development managers and the work of the Healthy Living managers.

  The Scottish Government would also encourage local authorities to provide free access to swimming pools for young people as part of a comprehensive package of measures to ensure more people become involved in swimming.

Sport

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken to encourage adults to become involved in swimming.

Shona Robison: In conjunction with sportscotland, the national agency for sport in Scotland, this is principally a matter for Scottish Swimming, the governing body for swimming in Scotland.

  The Scottish Government supports the approach that the governing body is taking to encourage adults to become involved in swimming, which includes the SwimGym fitness programme and the work of the Healthy Living managers.

Sport

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has produced guidance for local authorities on the desirability of establishing mother and baby fun swimming classes.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not issued any guidance to local authorities on this matter.

  However, promoted alongside the national Learn to Swim programme, Scottish Swimming offers a Adult and Child Swimming programme. This resource offers a valuable water-based experience to children aged around six months and over with their adult helpers.

  It is for individual local authorities to determine whether or not to adopt programmes of this nature and how they should be implemented according to local needs and priorities.

Sport

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it has issued to local authorities to encourage them to develop swimming life-saving classes for young children.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has not issued any guidance to local authorities on this matter.

  However, Scottish Swimming offers personal survival activity programmes for young children of all ages (including a programme available for schools). It is for individual local authorities to determine whether or not to adopt programmes of this nature and how they should be implemented according to local needs and priorities.

Wildlife

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what obligations fall on which statutory agencies to remove non-native invasive species formally classified or listed as such and what discretion exists in such matters.

Roseanna Cunningham: There are currently no obligations on any statutory agencies to remove invasive non-native species where they have been introduced. This is one of the issues considered in the consultation document on the proposed Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Wildlife-Habitats/WildNatEnvBill/ConDoc.

Wildlife

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to protect the wallaby population in Scotland.

Roseanna Cunningham: Animal welfare legislation would apply to wallabies as it does to other species. The Scottish Government is not taking any other steps to protect the wallaby population in Scotland.

Wildlife

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the wallaby population on Inchconnachan Island does not negatively impact on the environment and other species.

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it monitors the issues raised by the managers of Inchconnachan Island concerning the growth in the wallaby population.

Roseanna Cunningham: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority along with the Deer Commission and Scottish Natural Heritage are engaged in advising Luss Estates, who are responsible for the management of Inchconnachan Island and who are working to produce a conservation management plan for Luss Islands whose objectives would include delivering the best approach to conservation of native wildlife and habitats.

Wildlife

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether wallabies are protected under EU habitat directives.

Roseanna Cunningham: No.

Wildlife

Christina McKelvie (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21047 by Roseanna Cunningham on 10 March 2009, whether the wallabies on Inchconnachan Island are in the same position as the beavers referred to in the answer.

Roseanna Cunningham: Both the beavers referred to in the answer to question S3W-21047 and the wallabies on Inchconnachan Island are considered to be living outwith their natural range but for different reasons. In the case of the beavers this is because, although the species was formerly present in Scotland, they are a small population introduced deliberately for a trial to locations to which they would not have spread naturally in the foreseeable future. Wallabies are native to Australia.